History

The Early Years

1971 – Robert C. Krause founds Noah's Ark Pet Center, a 10,000 square-foot retail pet store located in Chicago, IL. Noah's Ark Pet Center is billed as the first "Super Store" for pets in the United States.

1971 – Pets International Ltd. is founded. The company starts as an importer of European and Asian pet products for all types of pets including Dogs, Cats, Fish, Reptiles, Birds and Small Animals marketed under the Super Pet brand.

1976 – Within 5 years of opening his first store, Noah's Ark Pet Center had expanded into a 23 store enterprise located in 3 Midwest states with more than 250 employees.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's, Pets International Ltd continued developing and importing pet products for all types of pets including Dogs, Cats, Fish, Reptiles, Birds and Small Animals under the Super Pet brand.

Finding a Niche

1995 – Super Pet won American Pet Product Manufacturers Association 1st Place Award for Best New Small Animal Product for Hamtrac, an exercise track system for hamster Run-about Balls. The new product changed Pets International's direction to specializing in designing products exclusively for Small Animals. Super Pet finds its niche!

1996 – The Super Pet brand celebrates its 25th Anniversary and the company officially begins designing all new products exclusively for Small Animals.

1996– Pets International begins manufacturing Super Pet products in the USA with the opening of its new Custom Injection Molding division

1997 – Super Pet won the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association 1st Place Award for Best New Small Animal Product for CritterTrail

1998 – Within just three years of changing direction, Pets International's Super Pet brand becomes the world's leading brand of homes and accessories for small animals

2002 – Expanded Pets International into a new 130,000 square-foot company at 2121 Touhy Avenue with 170 Employees in Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Research and Development, Graphic Arts, Finance, Production, Manufacturing and Warehousing

2004 – Warehousing and Distribution expands into an additional 118,000 square-foot facility at 1850 Touhy Avenue with additional offices for Sales and Customer Service departments.

2005 – Central Garden and Pet acquires Pets International, Ltd.

2006 – The Super Pet brand celebrates its 35th Anniversary

Today, Super Pet manufactures more than 600 different products for pet birds and small animals, with more than 200 of those products made in the USA at its Elk Grove Village, IL headquarters. The Super Pet brand continues to be recognized as the leading brand of products for small animals and pet birds.